Kristen Afionis -- a Sketchbook Conversation

This week's Sketchbook Conversation is with Kristen Afionis. I'm delighted to have Kristen here giving us yet another example of the fact that there is no right or wrong way to keep a sketchbook. It's inspiring to me (and I hope it's inspiring to you, too), to see so many different styles and media and themes. Whether or not you're encouraged to keep your own sketchbook, my hope is that you're inspired to speak your own story, whatever that may be.

Here's Kristen's story:

Hi! I’m Kristen and I am so excited to be sharing my sketchbooks with you. There is something so beautiful and mysterious about a sketchbook and I find it such a joy to be invited in to share in another’s story.

I’m a self-taught artist living on the shores of Lake Erie in Western New York. I started painting and drawing about a year and a half ago as a way to fulfill creative longings. Not long after, I picked up sketchbooking as an accessible way to practice my new and evolving skills in a manageable time frame each day. I get up each morning between 4.30-5.00am so that I can work for a few hours before the rest of the house begins to stir. These quiet hours give me the time and space I crave to explore undisturbed. It’s my favorite time of day.

My sketchbooks have become my most treasured possessions and I enjoy looking back through them (usually with a large mug of chai tea latte in hand). I have found that new inspiration always pops out from old work, often in exciting and unexpected ways. It truly feels like opening a gift each time I open an old cover.

Music is a great source of inspiration and whenever I’m feeling stuck a change in station usually helps to get new energy and ideas moving. My current favorite Pandora stations are Bon Iver, Philip Glass (a composer), Coleman Hell, and Lisa Gerrard.

I also draw inspiration from nature. My seven year old daughter and I have a practice of hiking and taking photos to draw from later. I keep a nature journal documenting any interesting bits of information I observe. Sometimes I print the photos and tape them in my sketchbook and then break down what I see into parts and pieces. Other times I tape a specimen directly into my book and add details to it later. This tie to nature comes across heavily in my work.

I have just about every type, style, and size of sketchbook and I am always working in many of them at once. For me, each has a different purpose. Some are for wet or mixed media, some are for drawing and doodling with pen, and some are working sketchbooks that I almost never share.

The working books are filled with scratch marks, super quick shapes to get the idea of something, notes to capture ideas, color swatches, and sometimes my daughter’s doodles too. They’re not pretty but they are just as important to the creative process as the pretty ones.My favorite sketchbooks are the small pocket-sized ones because they are so easy to travel with and manageable to finish a spread in a short period of time. This, This, and These are my favorites.

Sitting in front of a new and beautiful sketchbook can be anxiety inducing! Get up and move. Do some yoga, take a short walk, dance around to energetic music and then go back to your book. Make a mark, any mark, and then another, after that it gets easier. Try standing. I find that the ability to move and the idea that I can easily walk away helps my brush flow more freely. Enjoy the process and what comes out. Not everything I make I love but everything I make has value. Happy Creating!

Comments

The images here are so awe-inspiring from the intricately patterned insects to the pebble houses and babushka type rotund character! It is hard to believe that Kristen has only been painting and drawing for a short while with such accomplished creativity. Thank you Anne once again for opening the door to introducing another creative. You are selfless in your quest to keep your readers engaged and motivated in all forms of creativity. x

I love your Sketchbook Conversations Anne. Kristen's books have inspired me to try some double page spreads this weekend. I love that she discusses her materials and thanks for the links to her sketchbooks on Amazon. I am going to treat myself to some new sizes. Have a great weekend!

My art, photographs and words represent many hours of creativity and hard work and they mean a lot to me. Please do not use them without my permission. If you're sharing on Pinterest or another, similar site, please give credit and link back to my site.